Firearm trigger lock



Jan. 12, 1965 HALL FIREARM TRIGGER LOCK Filed Sept. 28, 1962 INVENTOR.ROBE/PT L. HALL A rraxe/vey United States Patent F Filed Sept. 28, 1962,Ser. No. 226,989 1 Claim. (Cl. 4270) The present invention relates tofirearm trigger locks and more particularly to a modified locking deviceof the type disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,664,658.

The trigger lock disclosed in Patent No. 2,664,658 fits completelywithin the trigger guard of a gun and includes internal locking meanswhich is completely enclosed and cannot be out free from the outsidebecause it is so inner locked with the integral structure of the triggerguard as to require permanent mutilation thereof in order to remove thedevice without the use of a key. The device of the present invention issimilar in this regard, but it differs from the trigger lock of thepatent in that it also includes means which additionally locks thesafety mechanism of the gun in its safe position and which assures thatthe safety mechanism is in its safe position while the trigger lock isbeing secured to or removed from the gun. This is an advantage over thetrigger lock of the patent which does not prevent accidental dischargeof the gun while it is being installed thereon or being removedtherefrom should the gun be in an unlocked position. Also, a gunihavinga hair' trigger can sometimes be discharged by a very rough jar eventhough the trigger lock is in position thereon if, at the same time, thesafety mechanism of the gun is in its firing position.

Therefore, it is one of the objects of the present invention to providea firearm trigger lock which prevents the slightest movement of atrigger in any direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a firearm trigger lockwhich assures that the safety mechanism of the gun is always in its safeposition when the lock is used therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gun locking device ofsimple and sturdy construction which can be economically manufacturedand marketed at a low cost.

According to the present invention, a firearm trigger lock isprovidedwith a pair of opposed plates having bevelled peripheral edgesshaped to wedge within the trigger guard of a gun. The plates haveinternal, mating recesses adapted to fit around the trigger of the gunand prevent any movement thereof. A tumbler type locking means isrotatably mounted in one of the plates and extends into the other platewhere it engages a latch means i V .to be novel are set forth withparticularity in the appended claim. The present invention, both as toits organization and manner of operation, together with further objectsand advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to thefollowing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, .in-which; w

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view'of a portion of a shotgun with thedevice of the invention secured in position withinthetrigger guard;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken alongline 22 of FIGURE 1; f' vFIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional'view similar to that- 3,164,919 PatentedJan. 12, 1965 ice 2 shown in FIGURE 2, but with the pin of the safetymechanism in a gun firing position and with the trigger lock removed;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, partially in cross-section, taken in thedirection of arrows 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 taken in the direction of thearrows 5+5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the locking device of the invention;and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view taken in the direction of arrows 77 of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIGURE 1, the firearm lockof the present invention, referred to generally as 10, is shown inengagement with the trigger guard 11 of a gun 12 having a trigger 13 anda safety mechanism or pin 14.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the pin 14 is transversely mounted in thetrigger guard 11 and maybe moved to a first position (FIG. 2) to preventfiring of the gun 12 and to a second position (FIG. 3) to permit firingthereof.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 4-7, the locking device 10, comprisestwo plates 16 and 17 which mate in sideby-side relationship within thetrigger guard '11. Eachplate 1617 is formed with a flat outer face 20joined to a parallelinner face 21 by a bevelled periphery 22. The faces20 and 21 conform to the inner outline of the trigger guard 11, and theouter faces 20 have perimeterslarger than that of the guard 11 so thatthe bevelled peripheries 22 wedge against the inner rim 23 of the guard11 preventing the plates 16 and 17 from passing therethrough. Neither ofthe plates 16 and 17 overhangs the outer rim of the guard 11 so as todistend the profile thereof.

In order to receive the trigger 13, the adjacent inner plate faces 21are provided with arcaute trigger recesses 28 as seen in FIGURES 5 and6. The recesses 28 define mating chambers which are shaped to fit aroundthe trigger 13 and prevent movement of the latter. Although this wouldordinarilymake it impossible to discharge the gun 12, it is recognizedthat guns having hair-triggers can sometimes be discharged by a sharpjar even though the locking device is secured to the gun. Also, there isdanger of accidentally moving the trigger while the looking device 10 isbeing installed'on the gun or removed therefrom. This, however, is notlikely to happen if the pin 14 is in the position shown in FIGURE 2.Accordingly, the lock 10 is provided with a recess 34 in the plate 17which is adapted to receive the pin'14. The plate 16 isprovided with aland 31 which abuts the end of pin 14 and which also engages the triggerguard 11 so that the pin 14 cannot be moved to its unlocked position,but will be maintained within the recess. It is to be noted that withthe recess 30 and the land 31 located as they are,

when considered with the shape of the locking device 10, it isimpossible to install it on the gun 12 unless the pin 14 is in itslocked position.

' A locking means 18h; provided to lock the plates 16 and 17 to eachother and thus prevent access to the trigger 13. The locking means 18preferably includes a cylindrical body portion 32 which is securedwithin and perpendicular to the plane of the plate 17. The body 32 is ofconventional construction and hasa key slot 33. An enlarged flange 34 issecured to the body 32 and projects outwardly ofthe plate 17 to preventinward movement of the body.

The inner end of the body 32 extends beyond the plate 17 and is adaptedto fit within a shaped recess 36 in the plate 16; A latch plate40 isfastened'to theterrninal end of the body'32 and ,is fixed for rotationtherewith by i meansof a threaded screw41 which engagesthebody 32. l:

3 The latch plate 40 is generally circular and has an outwardlyprojecting latch arm 43 which extends radially from the axis of the body32. Upon rotation of the body 32, the latch arm 43 engages a seat 44formed in the plate 16. I a g V s As best seen in FIGURE 4,"th'e recess36 in plate 16 is provided with a circular bore 45 which extends inwardto a depth sufficient to accommodate the end of body 32 and the latchplate 40. At the top of the bore 4-5 is a notch 46 which extends overthe entire length of the bore parallel to the axis thereof. The notch 46receives the latch arm 43 and permits rearward movement of the body 32into the bore 45. The back of the bore 45 is undercut to form the seat44 which is laterally otlset, as shown in broken lines, and is ofsuffic'ient width to receive the latch arm 43 when the latter is rotatedby the body 32. The latch arm 43 is prevented from forward movement bythe seat 44 when positioned within the recess 36 and thus locks theplates 16 and 17 securely together.

In the operation of the device, before the plates 16 and 17 are placedwithin the trigger guard 11, the'pin 14 is moved to its locked positionand a key is inserted within the key slot 33 to position the latch arm43 as shown in full lines in FIGURE so that it will register with thenotch 46 in plate 16.) The plates 16 and 17 are then fitted within thetrigger guard 11 to enclose the trigger 13. As this is done the lockbody 32 engages within the bore 45 and the latch arm 43 passesrearwardly' through the notch 46 to a point adjacent recess 44.

The key and body 32 are then rotated counter-clockwise as viewed inFIGURE 5 so that the latch arm 43 seats on the seat 44.

While the particular firearm trigger lock shown and described in detailis fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantageshereinbefore stated, .itis to be'understood that it is merelyillustrative of the pres ently preferred embodiment of the invention andthat no 4 limitations are intended to the details of'construction ordesignherein shown other than as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

5 A firearm trigger lock for locking the trigger and the safety pin of-afirearm comprising:

a first rigid plate engageable in the trigger guard of a firearm on oneside of'its trigger and-having its periphery engage on the inner surfaceof the trigger guard; t

a second rigid plate engageable in the trigger guard on the other sideof the trigger and having its periphery engage on the inner surface ofthe trigger guard;

a protuberance on one of said plates extending'transversely behind thetrigger to block the movement of I the trigger to firing position; afastening means mounted in said plates for locking them together; 7

a recess on one said plate adapted to completely en-' 20 compass an endof said pin after it is slid to its safe.

position; and

a land on the other of said plates adapted to abut the other end of saidpin and firmly hold said pin in its safe position; said pin beingautomaticallyvmoved to its safe position by assembly of said plates intoposi tion for operation of said fastening means and being completelycovered and' confinedagainst movement by said plates after operation ofsaid fastening means to lock said platestogether.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS 1*2,664,658 Bjorklund -s- Ian. 5, 1954 2,859,551 Buchanan Nov; 11, 1958 72,882,636

Shinaver Apr. 21, 195,9v

